OC hosts best-selling 'unChristian' author

Wednesday, Oct 24, 2012

Gabe Lyons

Gabe Lyons, who co-wrote the best-selling book, unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity and Why It Matters, will lead off the 2012 Intergenerational Faith Center Dialogues at Oklahoma Christian University on Tuesday, Oct. 30.

Only 250 seats are available for the free lecture, which starts at 7 p.m. in OC’s Judd Theatre. People wanting to attend should RSVP at www.oc.edu/ifc or by calling (405) 425.5370.

Lyons and Barna Group president David Kinnaman, who spoke at last year’s IFC Dialogues, wrote unChristian based on original research that revealed the pervasiveness of pop culture’s negative perceptions of Christians.

Lyons’ followup book, The Next Christians: The Good News About the End of Christian America, explored how the next generation of Christians can engage with a postmodern, pluralistic, post-Christian culture.

“We are pleased that Lyons will be with the IFC at OC. His insight into the religiosity of this current generation of young people is very helpful in understanding where the church and ministries might be beneficial and effective,” said IFC co-director Dr. Dudley Chancey, a professor of youth and family ministry at Oklahoma Christian.

In addition to the evening lecture, Lyons will be a featured guest at an on-campus luncheon for area youth ministers at 11:30 a.m. that day in the Gaylord University Center.

Lyons founded Q, a learning community that mobilizes Christians to advance the common good in society, and co-founded Catalyst, a national gathering of young leaders. He has been featured by CNN, the New York Times, Fox News and USA Today.

Lyons and his wife Rebekah, live in Manhattan, N.Y., with their three children.

The Intergenerational Faith Center, established last year at Oklahoma Christian, assists and equips families and faith-based institutions in spiritual formation. The IFC provides strategies and advises ministers, church leaders and other groups in developing intergenerational programming and practices.